There are 30 NHL general managers who consider rock ’em, sock ’em blueliner Shea Weber to be the foundation of an NHL franchise.

Unfortunately for the other 29, one of them is the Nashville Predators’ David Poile.

And with trade rumours around the league accruing momentum with the NHL draft and July 1 free agency both arriving in the next three weeks — many of which are of the “outlandish” variety — Poile wants to nip the Weber scuttlebutt in the bud.

Weber is under contract for 12 more years at a salary cap hit of $7.857-million US per season. Given that the Preds are a small-market team, there is no shortage of NHL vultures looking to pluck that hefty pact from the cash-cautious Nashville organization.

Not happening.

In the coming days and weeks, Jason Spezza and Ryan Kesler are likely to change hockey addresses. Perhaps Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Brad Stuart too.

But don’t lump Weber, 28, into that group. At least that’s what the GM says.

“We’re keeping him, we’re building our franchise around him,” Poile told reporters in New York. “I think we’ve got one of the best young defences in the league.

“I think he’s got an excellent chance of winning the Norris Trophy in 11 or 12 days from now. Why wouldn’t we build our team around him? That’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Poile hopes to augment the talent level around Weber but, in order to accomplish that, he’ll have to do a better job than last summer. Forwards Viktor Stalberg, Matt Cullen, Matt Hendricks and Eric Nystrom were simply Band-aid solutions for a misfiring offence that needed so much more.

Over to you, Mr. Poile.

“When we (upgrade talent), you’ll be saying, ‘Imagine that someone ever thought they would trade Shea Weber,’” Poile said. “No, we are not trading Shea Weber.”

Not what 29 GMs want to hear.

ATTACKER OR VICTIM?

Winnipeg Jets forward Evander Kane claims he was the victim in an exchange involving a man who is suing him for assault.

Kane said the three punches he threw during an Aug. 10, 2013, incident in Vancouver were in self defence against local resident Lev Makievsky.

While Makievsky’s statement of claim includes a list of injuries including a concussion, it does not list any details concerning the alleged run-in with Kane.

According to a response filed by Kane’s representatives to the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the Jets forward declined Makievsky’s attempt to go fist city in the wee hours of the morning in question. It went on to say Makievsky, who they claim has known Kane for four years, subdequently bull-rushed Kane and took a swipe at the young NHLer, causing the Jet to reply with punches.

“The Plaintiff was highly confrontational and shouted insults at the Defendant,” says Kane’s response filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

“When the Defendant attempted to walk away, the Plaintiff said ‘let’s go’ and suggested that the Defendant should engage in a physical fight with him.”

The response also indicated that Makievsky was heard bragging to co-workers the following night about his plans to sue Kane.

“The Defendant’s conduct was at all times consistent with preventing or repelling the Plaintiff from attacking him. The Defendant used no more than reasonable force to defend himself from the Plaintiff.”

For the record, Vancouver police investigated the incident on the night in question. No charges were ever laid.

CROSS CHECKS

Expect the Bruins to take a hard run at re-signing forward Jarome Iginla, 36. The future Hall of Famer, who signed a one-year contract with the Bruins last summer, scored 30 goals for the Bruins last season ... The Capitals are interested in bringing back unrestricted free agent Mikhail Grabovski next season, the veteran centre’s agent, Gary Greenstin, told The Washington Post. Grabovski had 35 points in 58 games for the Caps last season ... Incoming Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford admits re-signing pending UFA defenceman Matt Niskanen “is not going to be easy.” ... Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman told reporters in New York he would like to get Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews inked to long-term deals shortly after free agency kicks off. Kane and Toews are entering the final years of twin five-year, $31.5-million US deals. “That’s been our No. 1 objective all along, and I’m expecting to meet that,” Bowman said ... Pugilist George (The Stache) Parros, a pending unrestricted free agent, is not expected to be back with the Canadiens next season.

LAST MINUTE OF PLAY

Should the Kings defeat the Rangers in Game 5 on Friday night at the Staples Centre, it will mark the third time in a seven-year span that the state of California would have hosted a Stanley Cup parade/celebration.

The Ducks kicked off the festivities in 2007 — seven years ago — when they defeated the Senators in the Stanley Cup final. The Kings followed suit by disposing of the Devils in six games in 2012.